Patrick Okidi, Lira City – The State Anti-Corruption Unit has arrested and arraigned before the Lira Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday the embattled PDM suspected fraudster, Sarah Atim, who is also the chairperson of Ipito Aweno PDM SACCO.
Sarah Atim has been remanded by the Lira Chief Magistrate’s Court following allegations of extortion and bribery scandals that rocked the PDM in some parts of Lira City, including Ipito Aweno.
Following Sarah Atim’s arrest on May 30th, 2024, by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, a number of complaints seem to be cropping up again on the embattled Atim from several community groups under various PDM SACCOs.
She is accused of obtaining money from SACCO members by false pretenses over PDM funds accessibility. Six different counts have been read to Sarah Atim, led by the Resident State Attorney Joel Magala.
However, she told the court that she has heard all the allegations levied against her but denied all the allegations before the court. The court heard that Atim received UGX 50,000 from Tegarage Group on September 7th, 2023, for registration, 50,000 from the chairperson of Mar-en-Kuc PDM Group.
Furthermore, it was highly alleged that she obtained UGX 50,000 from Francis Olweny, who doubles as the Chairperson of Lira United Media/Photographers Association PDM Group, on November 16, 2023, with the pretense of linking them to accessing PDM cash.
She is also accused of taking UGX 50,000 from the chairperson of Ipito Aweno Youth PDM SACCO and another UGX 50,000 from Dickens Oryem, chairperson of Ipito Aweno PDM Group, on the same day. Meanwhile, Lira Chief Magistrate His Worship Joe Fay Adoko remanded Sarah Atim until the 14th of June 2024 when she will reappear for another court hearing.
However, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit has commended the arrest and remand of Atim as a significant milestone in the fight against corruption. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who abuse their positions are held accountable,” said the spokesperson for the unit.
One of the group members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Ankole Times newspaper that Brig. Isoke, the head of State House Anti-corruption Unit, has done a commendable job of biting the suspected corrupt and PDM swindlers and should really continue to bite even on the issue of Tipper stage, USMID funds accountability, among others.
